Stories from Thursday, October 6, 2011

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A request to forgive a $4,435 lien on 705 Ash St. where a dilapidated house was demolished was discussed during the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Monday night. "A local contractor is interested in purchasing this property from the current owner and building a house," said Mark Massingham, city finance director...

By PATRICK T. SULLIVAN SEMO News Service No one has seen or heard from Jacque Waller in more than four months. She has not touched her bank account or used her cellphone. Her vehicle was found abandoned on the side of Interstate 55 near Fruitland. Legions of volunteers and police officers have combed the Cape Girardeau area for any trace of Jacque. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A cooperative agreement for Oak Grove Road infrastructure improvements and an annexation request, which are needed to get the Eight Points Development started, were discussed during the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Monday night...

With her cell phone in one hand and the steering wheel in the other, Heather Houtz peered through a pair of virtual reality goggles at a computer-generated highway. She slammed on the brakes suddenly, six sensors recording her movements during the simulation Monday at Three Rivers College...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Grammy Award winning country artist Marty Raybon, formerly of the band Shenandoah, will perform and speak at Agee Fellowship at 6 p.m. Sunday to raise funds for the United Cancer Assistance Network. Admission is free but a donation will be collected for UCAN...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BERNIE, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man was charged today in connection with an earlier assault in which he is accused of stabbing another man he apparently had been drinking and arguing with. Coby Dewayne Morlan, 25, was charged with the Class A felony of first-degree assault (serious physical injury), the Class A felony of first-degree assault (attempt to kill/serious physical injury) and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Two area residents recently were sentenced for their roles in connection with the January 2010 robbery of the Stateline Truck Stop at Neelyville, Mo. Joseph Earl Little Sr., 64, pleaded guilty last week to the Class B felony of second-degree robbery before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Grammy Award winning country artist Marty Raybon, formerly of the band Shenandoah, will perform and speak at Agee Fellowship at 6 p.m. Sunday to raise funds for the United Cancer Assistance Network. Admission is free but a donation will be collected for UCAN...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Two area residents recently were sentenced for their roles in connection with the January 2010 robbery of the Stateline Truck Stop at Neelyville, Mo. Joseph Earl Little Sr., 64, pleaded guilty last week to the Class B felony of second-degree robbery before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett...

The Clearwater Lady Tigers are in an unfamiliar spot for this year's MSHSAA district tournament. After being seeded low in recent seasons, the Lady Tigers are the second seed and will face seventh-seeded East Prairie at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Rains Field on the campus of Three Rivers College...

Ally Brooks hit a bases-clearing double to break a sixth-inning tie and lift Poplar Bluff to a 10-6 win Monday over visiting East Carter. The Lady Mules rallied from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits while East Carter rallied in the top of the sixth to pull even...

Poplar Bluff's softball team prepared for the upcoming MSHSAA district tournament by facing a pitcher that had previously shut them out Monday. The Lady Mules produced 14 hits in a 10-6 win over visiting East Carter, matching a season-high for runs and avoiding a losing season in the process...

Leave it to the two teams with Tiger mascots to scratch and claw into dusk at the Ozark Foothills Conference tournament. Third-seeded Neelyville and three-time defending champion Clearwater did just that Monday as the teams ran out of daylight. The game is tied at 0-0 headed into the top of the 12th with Clearwater coming to the plate as the sun went behind the trees in right field...

Things were a little disconcerting for the Greenville Bears midway through Monday's first-round game in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament at Roger Pattillo Field. Doniphan pitcher Wesley Smith hadn't allowed a hit through four innings and the seventh-seeded Dons led 2-0...

Naylor coach Jeff Null went with his ace pitcher in the first round of the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament. And that ace showed why he is one of the top pitchers in the state. Senior Dalton Woodard struck out 19 batters en route to a 2-0 victory over East Carter Monday at Roger Pattillo Field...

To the Editor, Hooray, Hooray, Hooray! What a wonderful Iron Horse Celebration -- we give multitudes of thanks and also congratulations to the two outstanding directors, Tracy Frish, Downtown Development, and Rose Ann Huck, the all PBHS Grad celebration--great news coverage by DAR--all the officials keeping crowd control. ...

By MONA CHAREN The Southern Poverty Law Center is appalled by the results of a new study finding that states are not teaching the history of the civil rights era. The SPLC, which commissioned the study of state curricula, concludes that students in at least 35 states are missing out on important facts about our history. And even in states that include units on civil rights, "their civil rights education boils down to two people and four words: Rosa Parks, Dr. King and 'I have a dream.'"...

By PAT BUCHANAN As Greece lurches on the precipice of default on its sovereign debt, a default that could bring down banks across Europe and precipitate a global financial panic, a consensus is building that there is but one way out. First, a structured default on the Greek debt, giving creditors a major haircut, but compensating them with eurobonds of half the face value of the Greek bonds, guaranteed by the European Central Bank...

Change the channel What has happened with television? No, this is not a complaint about our local cable TV, but the Discovery Channel has a new program called, "American Underworld." Tonight's issue was "how to steal a car in America and profit off of it." Now, mind you, this purported photojournalist that is doing the show for the Discovery Channel is supposed to be a highly rated man, and yet, he's using his first amendment rights to hide the actual criminals who are bragging about never having been caught. ...

John Vancil DEXTER, Mo -- Military Rites will be conducted for John A. Vancil at 11 a.m. Friday at the site of his parents graves in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Mo. Mr. Vancil served in the 64th Field Artillery attached to the 25th Infantry Division in the Southern Philippines in Luzon...

Rachel Mooney FISK, Mo. -- Rachel Clark Mooney, 88, of Fisk, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Clark was born Dec. 16, 1922 in Marston, Mo. She had lived at Fisk most of her life and was a member of Rombauer General Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and enjoyed quilting...

Jimmie Crawford Jimmie Crawford, 59, Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Crawford was born Dec. 24, 1951, at Campbell, Mo. He was a truck driver for Olson Packaging in Dexter. He also attended Southeast Missouri Trucking School in Malden...

Tony Sturgeon NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Tony W. Sturgeon, 58 of Neelyville, Mo. died Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel of Neelyville.

Kevin G. Tidwell of Doniphan has received the Tommy Parks Memorial Scholarship. Tidwell is the son of Darla Tidwell of Doniphan and is a 1998 graduate of Doniphan High School. Tidwell plans to earn an associate of applied science degree in emergency medical services -- paramedic while at Three Rivers...

Lee and Denise Lewis and family of Fisk were among the 107 families honored during the Missouri State Fair's Farm Family Day, Aug. 15. The Lewis family was selected as the Butler County Missouri State Fair Farm Family by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council. The family includes daughter, Kylee and son, Carter...

ORAN -- Neelyville's defense stood tall when it mattered most Wednesday night. The Lady Tigers kept the would-be tying run from scoring in the sixth inning and added two runs in the seventh to upset fourth-seeded Chaffee in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 quarterfinal, 6-3...

Poplar Bluff and Cape Central were both down 17 points at halftime last week, both had second-half comebacks thwarted and both football teams look to gain some important momentum heading into district play. The 1-5 Mules will face the 4-1 Tigers at Central's new stadium at 7 p.m. Friday in the 86th meeting between the two SEMO North Conference rivals...

A walk-off bunt lifted Twin Rivers while Clearwater got a no-hitter as both teams advanced with one-run wins in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 softball quarterfinals Wednesday. Cheyenne Buie scored from second with one out in the bottom of the seventh on an errant throw following Lexi Stockton's bunt as Twin Rivers edged Greenville 2-1...

The Twin Rivers Royals have made it once again to the Ozark Foothills Conference championship game. But will the third team be a charm for them? The Royals got the win and set up a solid front pitching-wise as they beat Naylor, 5-3, Wednesday afternoon at Roger Pattillo Field...

It had been a long time coming for the Greenville Bears but for awhile Wednesday, it appeared that they were going to have to keep waiting. Greenville began the Ozark Foothills Conference semifinals by flinging the ball all around Roger Pattillo Field against three-time defending champion Clearwater...

HILLSBORO -- Trailing by four runs after three innings and three heading to the sixth, the Poplar Bluff softball team rallied late Wednesday. The Lady Mules scored twice in the sixth and four in the seventh to beat Cape Central 8-5 in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 quarterfinal...

Maintain brick streets I'd like to speak out a little bit about something that concerns me--on the brick roads down on Main Street. You know I'm all for the Historical Society. I love history, and I love the fact that they are trying to, you know, get the little hitch posts and historical landmarks around town from our past protected. ...

Let me get this straight. Bank of America now wants to start charging me and millions of other customers for using our own money? That's the bottom line in a new policy the bank has announced that would result in a monthly fee for the privilege of swiping our debit cards at the grocery or pharmacy or gas station. ...

By MONA CHAREN President Obama is excessively fond of defining "who we are as a nation," which is interesting coming from someone whose campaign was based on bringing sweeping and profound changes to the country. He has resorted to this formulation when urging government-controlled, universal health care. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service The waiting room was packed with people doing what we all do in waiting rooms: waiting. Some read. Some played with cellphones. Some engaged in not-so-private conversations the rest of us pretended not to hear...

Instead of carving a face in your Halloween pumpkin, use nontoxic paint or marker pens to create a unique face. After Halloween has passed have your pumpkin to do double duty. Don't try to peel a pumpkin. Instead pierce small pumpkins several times with a sharp knife to prevent explosions and bake whole on a tray in an oven at 325°F until they pierce easily. Length of baking time depends on the size of the pumpkin. Halve larger pumpkins and bake on cookie sheets, cut side down...

Virginia Del Grande DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Virginia H. Del Grande, 84, of York, Pa, formerly of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Del Grande, daughter of Kenneth C. and Florence M. (Gosney) Van Bibber, was born Feb. 24, 1927, in Kansas City, Mo. She had worked in the accounting department of a retail furniture business...

Adam and Lisa Crowder of Couch announce the birth of their daughter, Ellie Ann Crowder at 10:19 p.m.Friday, Sept. 2, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.  Ellie weighed 6 pounds 15.5 ounces, and measured 19 inches long. Grandparents are Keith and Carolyn Leroux of Gatewood and Jim and Phyllis Crowder of Couch. Maternal great-grandmother is Beulah Coonce of Gatewood...

By JOE JEREK Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY, Mo -- In anticipation of winter trout fishing, the Missouri Department of Conservation encourages trout anglers to help prevent the spread of a new threat to Missouri's cold-water streams and rivers. ...

Angler's Choice will have their final tournament of the season this Sunday. Fishing will begin at 7 a.m. with weigh-in at 4 p.m. The Current River Smallmouth Association will have a club tournament on Saturday, fished from Van Buren. This is their final club event before their Classic, which will be held later this month...

Dwight Stokes MALDEN, Mo. -- William Dwight Stokes, 65, of Malden, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. today at Elder Cemetery in Campbell, Mo., with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden in charge of arrangements...

Dorothy Coleman Dorothy Mae Coleman, 76, of Neelyville, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 at her residence. Ms. Coleman was born Sept. 15, 1935, in Henry, Ill., and was a homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and crocheting. Survivors include three children, Melody Coleman of Neelyville, Frederick Coleman of Grants Pass, Ore., and Timothy Coleman of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a sister, Nancy Thurman of Petal, Miss...

Delores Morrison BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Delores Evelyn Morrison, 77, of Abilene, Texas, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, in Abilene. Mrs. Morrison was born Feb. 8, 1934, in Batesville, Ark. She had been a member of Highland Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff and a secretary for Vocational and Technical School of Poplar Bluff...

Betsey Marshell Betsey Sue Marshell, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at her residence. Ms. Marshell was born Jan. 17, 1951, in Caruthersville, Mo. She was formerly of California and was a member of Southside Assembly of God in Poplar Bluff. Ms. Marshell was a CNA and enjoyed fishing...

Wappapello Outdoor Theatre WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- There are only two weekends left to enjoy the Lake Wappapello Outdoor Theatre for the 2011 season Appearing at 6:30 p.m. Friday will be the Ozark Foothills bluegrass band comprised of the Beal Family from Advance, Mo. A special feature will be 13-year-old Jennifer Beal playing the fiddle. She performed at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Ark., where she was featured with the Cobb Brothers in a special Generations Concert Aug. 11...

Dwight Stokes -- Malden, Mo. Vicki Lawrence -- Pocahontas, Ark. Delores Morrison -- Abilene, Texas Betsey Marshell -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Virginia Sielert -- Conway, Ark. Dorothy Coleman -- Neelyville, Mo. Tony Sturgeon --Neelyville, Mo. Jimmie Crawford -- Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Jessy Barker -- Dexter, Mo. Larry Hastings -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Virginia Braden -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Virginia Del Grande -- York, Pa.

Walmart, 333 S. Westwood Blvd., has been serving Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the surrounding community for 41 years. In 1990, when Walmart opened in its current location, the store was the largest supercenter built by the company. Matt Looney, manager, points out that Walmart 19, like the other 3,600 locations across the U.S. ...

The Independent Living Center of Southeast Missouri (ILCSEMO), located at 511 Cedar St., Poplar Bluff, Mo., has served people with disabilities in this area for 14 years, providing: information and referrals, advocacy, skills training, peer support and de-institutionalization. In addition, ILCSEMO provides In-Home Services which include: personal care, homemaker services, nurse visits, respite care and chore services...

Focus on Physical Therapy, located in the old Century 21 building at 3381 Kanell Blvd., (PP Highway) is locally owned. Managed by Chad A. Casey, DPT/ATC, Focus opened July 6, 2009 and offers a variety of outpatient physical therapy services. Beyond its main emphasis of outpatient physical therapy, Focus also offers occupational therapy, athletic training and women's health therapy managed by Jennifer Funke, MPT...

John N. Fox, D.D.S., M.S., P.C., has been providing orthodontic care in Poplar Bluff for 30 years. After purchasing the former Dental Arts Building, Dr. Fox renamed the building at 1300 N. Westwood Boulevard. It is now called the Center for Advanced Orthodontics. ...

For 20 years, Northwest Rehab at Westwood Hills Health & Rehabilitation, 3100 Warrior Lane, Poplar Bluff, Mo., has served the rehabilitation needs of the community, offering physical and occupational therapy and speech therapy. Rehabilitation serves are provided for post-surgery, pain management, wound care or sports injuries, providing one-on-one therapy and being treated by the same therapist. A large percentage of residents who receive therapy return home...

Poplar Bluff Monument Works, LLC, 1969 S. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo., has created artistic memorials for families of Poplar Bluff and surrounding areas for 38 years. Steven Gillihan, owner and manager, is known for his craftsmanship and for treating families as he would his own...

While keeping a close watch on the county budget, the Butler County Commission is actively involved in helping to secure funding for needed projects throughout the county. The largest amount of funding was obtained for the 2.1-mile Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass Road which will extend from the Union Pacific Railroad crossing to the new signal light at Business 67 South in front of Heartland Express...

Healthy foods are important to support critical periods of growth and development during pregnancy, after delivery and throughout childhood. Butler County Health Department can help families with this through WIC, the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children...

EYE CARE Specialists is a state-of-the-art practice that initiated the multi-specialty ophthalmology focus in Southeast Missouri.  In 1989, Dr. David Westrich, M.D. founded a practice specializing in vitreoretinal disease and surgery. The practice grew from a one M.D. ...

After 14 years in Poplar Bluff, Francisco Esquivel and his family call Poplar Bluff home. "The people here are wonderful and we have made many good friends over the years," Esquivel says. He is grateful for the support of the community and feels he can return that support by being active in special projects, community events and supporting the local school system. ...

One of the first drug stores located in a shopping center in Missouri and the oldest drug store in Butler County, Key Drugs at 910 N. Westwood Blvd., has become a family tradition. Marty Michel, Jennifer Dennis, and Robin Robertson are all knowledgeable pharmacists with years of experience. ...

Smith & Co. is a proud member of and contributor to the forward looking Southeast Missouri community. "Sam Smith founded our company in 1968 and continued to grow our company to support the growth in this region," President Bob MacDonald said. Today, more than 40 Employee-Owners of Smith & Co. ...

F'or nearly a decade, Tim and Gary Stricklin and the staff at Quality Air Heating and Cooling have been living up to their name by providing quality work to customers in the Poplar Bluff, Mo., area. Located at 4057 S. Westwood Blvd., Quality Air offers 24-hour service, as well as free estimates for the installation of new systems...

For more than 30 years, customers from the Poplar Bluff, Mo., area having been stopping into the McDonald's restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Founded in 1955, the first McDonald's opened locally on North Westwood Boulevard in 1978. Since that time, additional locations have opened inside the Walmart Supercenter in 1994, on Highway 53 in 1999, in Doniphan, Mo., in 1995 and Van Buren, Mo., in 2001...

"What an exciting time this is for our community!" This past year has been one filled with the hope that a very great opportunity would become a reality, then to agonize with fear that certain forces might win in their efforts to railroad the progress and then finally, be elated that what is good and right did prevail! For all of that I personally cannot thank enough K-2 Commercial Group for showing up here and having the vision to initiate the process and for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center weathering a long and arduous process in order to get the location that serves both as an excellent location for them and one which also spurs the retail development this community so badly needs. ...

Cotrell Funeral Service with locations in Poplar Bluff and Wappapello is one of the oldest continuing businesses in Butler County. Established in 1879, Cotrell Funeral Service has been committed to outstanding service, care and compassion to families in their time of need for 131 years...

With more than 145 years of successful operation, Commerce Bank offers financial strength and stability. Attesting to this, Commerce Bank was ranked among the top ten on Forbes' list of America's Best Banks, reported in December 2010. Commerce is also ranked number seven on Bank Director magazine's 2011 top 150 Bank Performance Scorecard...

Comfort Master, Inc., 1645 Highway B, Poplar Bluff, Mo. has been servicing more than 2,500 commercial and residential customers since April of 1984. It is our policy to hire well- trained, experienced, certified, service technicians. Our goal is to provide the best service available to the customer. Our service technicians are trained to work on air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, water heaters, commercial refrigeration units, kitchen equipment and ice machines...

When thinking about summer float trips on the Current River everyone's destination is The Landing in Van Buren. They have been outfitting people with inner tubes, canoes, rafts and kayaks for summer float trips down one of America's most scenic rivers since 1981, but the latest addition to the resort, The River Centre at The Landing, is attracting visitors to Current River for other reasons...

Dennis Outdoors is a family owned and operated store since 1968, and established its current store on Business Highway 67 South in Poplar Bluff, Missouri in 1974. Dennis Outdoors had plans for a new building, but due to the economic downturn they have decided to post pone those plans for the future and have done interior remodeling to the current building. ...

Kneibert Clinic, LLC: Since the last progress edition, we have grown and we have changed. We have added two providers to Behavioral Health, Dr. Dan Barbour, Psychologist, and Linda Sue Hammonds, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Rebecca Pinchoff has been a welcomed addition to our Pediatric Department. ...

Thirty years ago most companies, especially healthcare companies, didn't talk about culture. In fact, most folks thought culture had to do with Beethoven and other fine arts. Well, thirty years ago at Gamma, culture was a key an issue as it is today. ...

Your credit union has some great deals going on right now! We have vehicles loans as low as 3.3%, plus fantastic rates on mortgage loans, home equity loans, signature loans, lines of credit loans, small business loans, in addition to RVs, boats, motorcycles - essentially any consumer loan with collateral. We also offer share and certificate loans where you still earn interest and the loan rate is just 3 percent over the dividend rate you are earning...

While the entire banking world is changing and things become more complex and confusing, business life at First Missouri State Bank continues to be simple and customer friendly. First Missouri State Bank has been serving the area since 1912, when it originally began operation as State Bank of Fisk. ...

Southern Bank recently was recently ranked second among publicly-traded banks in SNL Financial's listing of top 100 community banks; and was ranked number 13 overall. Rapidly approaching its 125 year anniversary, Southern Bank attributes longevity and success to its desire to serve its communities...

Poplar Bluff, Mo., is the home of the only dedicated curved hose manufacturing facility in the Gates Fluid Power organization. Having opened in 1982, the local Gates Rubber Corporation facility is situated on 17 acres in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park...

A fine piece of jewelry represents remembrance: of an occasion, birthday, holiday, anniversary, engagement and all of the messages of love. For our 60 years -- Poplar Bluff natives -- the Whitworth family members, have been giving quality, experience, honesty and service to friends and neighbors at Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers. ...

Eye Surgery Consultants has been providing the highest level of ophthalmic care for the last 25 years. With locations in Poplar Bluff, Kennett and satellite offices in Doniphan, Hayti and Cape Girardeau, Mo., they are able to serve a large area of Southeast Missouri...

Subway has been a family owned and operated business in Poplar Bluff for 22 years, opening their first Subway on June 1, 1989 at 1907 N. Westwood Blvd. We soon followed with other store locations. Our south Subway location was originally opened in the Rick's 66 gas station on Feb. ...

White-Sanders Funeral Home has a long standing tradition of service in Butler County. Owners Jim and Kathy Sanders along with Wanda Sanders are lifelong residents of the area. Jim graduated from Twin Rivers High School and attended Three Rivers College before going to Kentucky School of Mortuary Science where he graduated in 1975. ...

SDLq2011 has been another fantastic year for Productive Staffing! We have seen growth in our Jonesboro office and Poplar Bluff continues to build relationships with existing clients and has gained new clients despite the current economy," stated Owner, Janet McNece...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- The Caruthersville chief of police and an officer on his department were to appear in court today on multiple forgery and stealing charges related to money allegedly missing from a law-enforcement-related account...

Jessy Barker DEXTER, Mo. -- Jessica Lynn "Jessy" Barker, 23, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at her residence. She was born on March 9, 1988, in Midland, Mich. She had lived in Joplin, Mo., before moving to Dexter in 1995. She was a member of the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter...

Larry Hastings Larry David Hastings, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Hastings was born Aug. 5, 1948, in Poplar Bluff. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had retired from Three Rivers College. Mr. Hastings enjoyed the computer and oil painting...

Virginia Braden Virginia Rafael Braden, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Mrs. Braden was born May 1, 1946, in Manila, Philippines. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was a 20-year employee at Walmart in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Braden enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and going to movies, yard sales and flea markets...

The Poplar Bluff Operations of Briggs & Stratton worked hard throughout the past year to achieve a daunting task, "get our Quantum engine family capable of meeting the new EPA Phase III emission regulations that takes effect Jan. 1, 2012 on top of satisfying world demand for our engines in one of the busiest years we've realized ...and we succeeded!" said Poplar Bluff Plant Manager Mark Melloy...

The No. 1 Polaris Dealer in Missouri is Poplar Bluff, Mo.'s own Bluff Honda. In addition to its first-place standing with Polaris, the 11-year-old business also is one of the top two Polaris dealers in the state. Located at 3911 Highway 67 North, Bluff Honda sells Honda and Polaris products, parts and accessories, as well as services what it sells and offers financing...

After five generation in the agriculture business, the family-owned Cane Creek Sod, offers customers a wealth of knowledge that extends from local residential jobs to large commercial projects. The business, located at 2179 County Road 321, was started 11 years ago when owner, Chris Williams, noticed a need in the area for turfgrass...

Super D is owned by USA Drug in Pine Bluff, Ark., which purchased two independent pharmacies in Poplar Bluff in 2009 and built a 4,000-square foot store at 1465 N. Westwood Blvd. "We like the Poplar Bluff market. It is a growing market," said Joseph Skye, director of acquisitions for USA Drug. "Our growth mode over the last couple of years has been through the acquisitions of independent pharmacies."...

According to the American Cancer Society, there are now about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. A diagnosis of breast cancer brings with it many questions, and requires sudden decision making about surgery and treatment. With this comes the need to learn an overwhelming amount of new information at a rapid rate, and to become familiar with new concepts and strange medical jargon...

In 2010, the American Cancer Society posted this article on its website: For more than 20 years October has been recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that has boosted mammography use, pushed for better treatments, and saved lives. ...

Several news stories appeared on TV and online about Doug Harkey, a man who regained his eyesight after a chiropractic adjustment. Two of the stories appeared on Jan. 11, 2008 in the Telegraph Herald from Dubuque Iowa, and KCRG-TV news from Cedar Rapids Iowa...

October marks Dental Arts Group's first year in their new building at 2700 Kanell Blvd. Drs. Rick, John and Erich Blaich's goal was to design a new dental facility that was not only state of the art with technology, but also a quality setting that welcomed patients and put them at ease. ...

Larry Hastings Larry David Hastings, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Hastings was born Aug. 5, 1948, in Poplar Bluff. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had retired from Three Rivers College. Mr. Hastings enjoyed the computer and oil painting...

Angler's Choice will have their final tournament of the season this Sunday. Fishing will begin at 7 a.m. with weigh-in at 4 p.m. The Current River Smallmouth Association will have a club tournament on Saturday, fished from Van Buren. This is their final club event before their Classic, which will be held later this month...

By JOE JEREK Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY, Mo -- In anticipation of winter trout fishing, the Missouri Department of Conservation encourages trout anglers to help prevent the spread of a new threat to Missouri's cold-water streams and rivers. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service The waiting room was packed with people doing what we all do in waiting rooms: waiting. Some read. Some played with cellphones. Some engaged in not-so-private conversations the rest of us pretended not to hear...

By MONA CHAREN President Obama is excessively fond of defining "who we are as a nation," which is interesting coming from someone whose campaign was based on bringing sweeping and profound changes to the country. He has resorted to this formulation when urging government-controlled, universal health care. ...

Let me get this straight. Bank of America now wants to start charging me and millions of other customers for using our own money? That's the bottom line in a new policy the bank has announced that would result in a monthly fee for the privilege of swiping our debit cards at the grocery or pharmacy or gas station. ...

Maintain brick streets I'd like to speak out a little bit about something that concerns me--on the brick roads down on Main Street. You know I'm all for the Historical Society. I love history, and I love the fact that they are trying to, you know, get the little hitch posts and historical landmarks around town from our past protected. ...

The Twin Rivers Royals have made it once again to the Ozark Foothills Conference championship game. But will the third team be a charm for them? The Royals got the win and set up a solid front pitching-wise as they beat Naylor, 5-3, Wednesday afternoon at Roger Pattillo Field...

It had been a long time coming for the Greenville Bears but for awhile Wednesday, it appeared that they were going to have to keep waiting. Greenville began the Ozark Foothills Conference semifinals by flinging the ball all around Roger Pattillo Field against three-time defending champion Clearwater...

Virginia Braden Virginia Rafael Braden, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Mrs. Braden was born May 1, 1946, in Manila, Philippines. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was a 20-year employee at Walmart in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Braden enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and going to movies, yard sales and flea markets...